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JEFFERSON CITY — A Cole County judge Wednesday set a Nov. 5 trial date for two lawsuits seeking to stop a state board from controlling the ӣ����Ƶ police department.

Circuit Judge Richard Green said the cases will be heard simultaneously on that date for what is expected to be a one-day bench trial.

Attorneys seeking to stop the state takeover had asked for an October date, but Attorney General Andrew Bailey’s office suggested November in order to complete pre-trial preparations.

“We just need to have a little time for that,” Deputy Solicitor General Samuel Freedlund told the judge.

“November is not unreasonable,” said attorney Chuck Hatfield, who is representing ӣ����Ƶ Board of Aldermen President Megan Green, who filed one of the lawsuits.

The state takeover of the ӣ����Ƶ Metropolitan Police Department was a priority for Gov. Mike Kehoe, who ran for the top state office last year on a pledge to reduce crime. He helped steer the takeover through the House and Senate this spring and rolled out his appointments to the six-member board last month.

The commissioners will set policies for the department and oversee discipline of officers, including hearing appeals of department leaders’ decisions.

Green argues the takeover imposes an illegal spending mandate on the city and violates multiple provisions of the state constitution.

In the other case, activists Mike Milton of the Freedom Community Center and community organizer Jamala Rogers say the state takeover will derail recent progress in reducing homicides and other crime by funneling more resources to traditional policing at the expense of social programs designed to prevent crime.

Their case, which is being handled by the nonprofit law firm ArchCity Defenders, makes similar arguments to Green’s.

It also argues that it violates a provision prohibiting the state from imposing laws specific to one city.

Green’s lawsuit did not have the support of Mayor Cara Spencer, who tasked city lawyers with developing their own case, though nothing has been filed.

Both cases are asking the judge to declare the new law enabling the takeover invalid. No matter the decision, both sides acknowledge that the ruling will be appealed.

Wednesday’s short court hearing came a day before the commissioners are set to meet for the first time at department headquarters on Olive Street.

The agenda calls for the board to elect officers and includes time for a discussion on the board’s initial goals. The board also will discuss policies for open records.

Other items include a discussion about a contract to purchase body cameras for officers worth $7.1 million and the adoption of a regular meeting schedule of the first Wednesday of each month.